Rip strip key and attaching means for containers



01.30, 1934. J. H. ONEIL 1,979,171

RIP STRIP KEY AND ATTACHINC' MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 18, 1935Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIP STRIP KEY ANDATTACHIN G MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Application March 18, 1933, Serial no.661,597

2 Claims. (01. 220-52) The invention has to do with new and usefulimprovements in a key for removing the tearing strip of an easy openingcontainer and the attaching means, whereby said key is secured to thecontainer. 1

An object of the invention is to provide a key attaching means wherebythe key may be attached to the container end within the depressedportion thereof through a yielding gripping contact with the opposedwalls of an arcuate recess in the container end.

i A further object of the invention is to provide a key attaching meansof the above type, wherein a portion of the handle of the key makes ayielding three-point contact with the opposed walls of the recess.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of a container having the key attached thereto bythe improved key attaching means.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view on anenlarged scale and in section through the handle of -the key for showingthe three-point gripping contact between the key and the'arcuate recessin the container end.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a slightly modified formof key.

In carrying out the invention, the key for removing the tearing strip ispreferably formed of wire bent upon itself to provide a shank having aslot adapted to be placed over the end of the rip strip so that it maybe rolled onto the shank of the key. The wire forming the shank is bentlaterally and thence into loop form to provide a handle. In a preferredform of the invention, the ends of the wire are substantially in contactat the center of the outer member of the handle.

This outer member of the handle is offset from the plane of the shank sothat it may be inserted F in a recess in the container end. The recessmay be formed all the way around the end in a complete circle or for ashort distance. It is essential, however, that it should be ofsufiicient length to completely house the outer member of the han- 21die portion of the key. This outer member of the handle portion is soshaped that a three-point contact is made with the side walls of therecess. Two points of contact at spaced distances are made with theouter wall of the recess and the i central portion of the outer handlemember contacts with the inner wall of the recess midway between saidpoints of contact with the outer wall. This enables the handle member tohave a yielding but firm frictional grip with the armf ate shaped recessin the container end.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the container as shown includesa body portion 1, having score lines 2 and 3 which are spaced from eachother so as to set oif a tearing strip therebetween, which tearing striphas a tongue 5 attached thereto, on which a key is placed for rollingthe tearing strip onto the key and rupturing the metal. The containerend or cover 5 is secured to the container by a seam 6, which may be ofany desired character. The container end may be of any desired shape,but it is essential that it shall be provided with an arcuate recess 7,having opposed side walls 8 and 9. The key is preferably formed from aspring wire which is bent upon itself so as to provide the shankportions 10 and 11 with a slot 12 therebetween. The tongue of thetearing strip is inserted in this slot and when the key is turned, itwill cause the shank portions to grip the tongue and roll the same so asto rupture the metal. The shank portion 11 is bent laterally asindicated at 13 and is then extended substantially radially of thecontainer as indicated at 14, where it is again bent laterallysubstantially at right angles of the plane of the key, as indicated at15. The wire is then again bent substantially at right angles to thislateral portion 15, as indicated at 16. The shank portion 10 is bentlaterally in the opposite direction as indicated at 17 and thence insubstantially radial direction as indicated at 18, and thence laterallyout of the plane of the key and inwardly as indicated at 19. The ends ofthe portions 16 and 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, substantially meetcentrally of the shank of the key. They may be joined, but it ispreferable to separate the ends slightly for reasons which will bepresently stated.

The key thus formed has a handle portion which projects laterally fromthe shank and which may be used for forcibly turning the shank portionto wind the tearing strip thereon. The outer members of this handleportion indicated at 16 and 19 are substantially in alignment. Thisportion of the key is forced into the arcuate recess 7. It will make athree-point gripping contact with the side walls of the recess. Theportions 15 of the key will contact with the outer wall of the recess atthe points a and b, which are widely spaced from each other. The innerends of the members 16 and 19 will contact with the inner wall of therecess in the region indicated at c. This may be considered a singlepoint of contact, although when the ends are spaced, they are in realitytwo points of contact. The relatively straight handle portion of the keyis forced into this arcuate groove and is so dimensioned that it willmake these three points of contact and the ends of the members 16 and 19will yield to permit the forcing of this handle portion into the recess.The Walls of the recess are substantially vertical and therefore the keywill be firmly gripped by said walls. By lifting the key it can bereadily sprung out of the recess and can be replaced if desired.

The recess '7 as shown in the drawing, extends all the way around theend forming a complete circle. This has its advantages as when the keyis attached to the end it does not have to be placed in any particularradial position relative to the tached to the container, or it may bettached to.

the end after the end has been attac new the container. All that isnecessary is to place the ke inninp pos ti n n. the n ini rn l prin nn hndle ni ii nn he eo int the n cna c recess ha he ke wi l h ve r p nconta t with he W l o t e rec s n. Fisi t e. awin the nta ner i of heame con ruc n an the key. ha been some: fin l i difi d T e shank port o1.0 of the key t rmin es at the oi 0- The shank p rtinn of tink r is entla era t 3 nd thence ubstantially ad a l as. t is. a d thence, aga laera y and o t o th lan of the. key and a ain atera ly as i dica e atWhich handle member 21 extends all the way. across the. central line ofthe kcyn to. he oth r side o handle p tier. of the. knve forming the keyis then en bac nthc pla e. of the key and substa ly radially asindicated, at 22 and thence laterally as ndi ated. a so, that the endthereof terminatesclose to the, end 20, and maybe attached thereto ifdesired. .Ihe laterally extended. portion of the handle contacts withthe. outer wall of the recess at thepoints a and. b, and the centralportion of this member. 21 contacts with the inner.

1 31 i the, recess at the. point 0. The manner ccnstruction whereby aportion of the key will make a three-point contact with an arcuaterecess in th con a n r n I-Iaving thus fully described the invention,what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Eat -i n l Thecombination with a container having a tearing strip and an arcuategroove in the containe'r end adjacent the double seam and concentrio,thereto, a key adapted to engage said tearing stripf'sa'id -key being ofspring wire bent upon itsei t form ha and; a ha dle. said. and havin ortons. thereo bent a substantially ri ht an s t the lane oi nn nd. Qdnnninis a apte ens-nee ne Wel said arcuate slot, said handle having ayielding portion is s d betwee s d nntnct. pai ts. and nd rtn en a e. hth l Q $Fi a iena e. 1? 0 n idin s ke i en ement Min the non ainn -f 2-En comb a i n wi h a onta n r havi a 0.5 tearing strip and an arcuategrooye the con ainnr end; ad acent. the doubl eam. nd on ennfic th eto,a key adapted in en a e aid tannins rip aid ke bei g f r n w re b ntnnnnv its n f rm a hank a han le sa d handle-1'10 having portionsthereof bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the shank andforming contac mints adapted o, en a Qne wa l nisa ncuate' ct, aid handh v n i dinan f on projecting toward each other and; spaced so as 1.15to yie d ndep de tly a d yi ldi membe bein ad ted o contac with. e e W lOf said arcuate lot or o d n aid ke on. aid onn ner.

JAMES; oNEIL,"

